Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne has spoken out on the moving reason she chose her semi-final performance song ahead of Sunday’s episode.
The drag queen, 30, real name James Williams, is set to take to the rink for her Personal Skate this weekend.
And the entertainer, who rose to fame on BBC Three’s RuPaul’s Drag Race UK, chose a track that has meant a lot to her since her childhood after watching the 1939 musical film The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.
She explained: ‘For my personal song, I’m going to be skating to Over the Rainbow.
‘As a young boy I really fell in love with The Wizard of Oz because it just made me feel like anything was possible.
Emotional: Dancing On Ice star The Vivienne, 30, has spoken out on the moving reason she chose her semi-final performance song ahead of Sunday’s episode
Born to perform: The drag queen, real name James Williams, is set to take to the rink for her Personal Skate this weekend (pictured last month)
‘I knew I was different but I didn’t know what it was but seeing Dorothy who knew there was a bigger world out there than Kansas definitely struck something with me.’
The Vivienne, who is partnered with professional skater Colin Grafton on the show, went on to explain how it wasn’t until she moved out of Wales to a big city that she began to feel comfortable in her own skin.
Being around likeminded people enabled to grow into herself and embrace her authentic identity.
She said: ‘I came out at 14 and moved to Liverpool when I was 16 and quickly found my tribe.
‘It was a big sigh of relief that these people were exactly like me. And then I saw drag queens and thought “wow, I’m really in Oz now!”
‘It’s a crazy full circle from little seven year-old James dreaming of being Dorothy to now being able to portray this song on ice.
‘When people watch this performance, I hope that they are transported to this happy place and whatever they’re going through, just know that over the rainbow there is something fabulous waiting for you. And you’re a very special person who can get through anything.’
This weekend’s semi-final will see the five remaining celebrities take to the ice as they battle it out to bag a coveted place in the Dancing on Ice Final.
Heartfelt: The entertainer chose a track that has meant a lot to her since her childhood after watching the 1939 musical film The Wizard of Oz starring Judy Garland
Dynamic duo: The Vivienne is partnered with professional skater Colin Grafton on the ITV show
Big dreams: The Vivienne will be skating to Over the Rainbow from The Wizard Of Oz as she said the film made her believe anything was possible (L-R: Judy Garland as Dorothy Gale, Jack Haley as The Tin Man and Ray Bolger as Scarecrow in the 1939 movie)
Facing their toughest challenge yet, each celebrity will deliver two performances in a bid to impress both the judges and viewers at home.
A double elimination will see two celebrities leave the competition with the three finalists remaining.
It comes after Carley Stenson broke down in tears as she was eliminated from Dancing on Ice last Sunday.
The 40-year-old actress – who is best known for her role as Steph Cunningham in the Channel 4 soap opera Hollyoaks – had been taking part in the ITV1 skating competition alongside Mark Hanretty.
She became emotional after missing out on a place this week’s semi-finals and admitted she will ‘miss’ her professional partner.
She told hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield last weekend: ‘It just got harder. I’m gonna miss this man.
‘I’ve really enjoyed it, this is all a bit of a blur actually.’
The former West End star had ended up in the skate-off against Siva Kaneswaran and his partner Klabera Komini but failed to impress Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo, and Oti Mabuse.
They performed a routine to Celeste hit Stop This Flame, with all four judges opting to send The Wanted singer Siva through to the next heat of the competition.
Diversity member Ashley remarked: ‘What a skate-off! For me, it is about the skate-off, it is about the drama, it is about the executive and how you hold it together and I think [Siva and Klabera] had a stronger week.’
Out: It comes after Carley Stenson became the sixth star to be voted out of the competition last Sunday night following a tough skate-off against Siva Kaneswaran
Competition: The former Hollyoaks actress, 40 (left), lost her place in the competition after all four judges opted to save The Wanted singer, 34 (second right)
Oti claimed Carley’s routine had been intricate and difficult’ but Siva’s was ‘easy but perfectly executed’.
Christopher commented: ‘The skate-off is about the do or die and tonight, there were some mistakes.’
Head Judge Jayne added: ‘I would agree with my fellow judges, it was all about tonight’s skate-off and that is what we have to judge.’
Dancing on Ice continues Sunday, 6:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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